Presto

May 28, 1927.
11
PRESTO-TIMES
CELEBRATION OF THE 104TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE HOUSE OF CHICKERING
Plan Devised in the Interest of Dealers Was Carried Out With Results
Gratifying to Retailers and Manufacturers
A Record Event, the Outstanding Feature of Which Was a Month of Intensive Piano Selling
Throughout the Country
An outstanding feature of the Chickering anniver-
The esprit de corps that characterizes the splendid
sary plan was a national sales contest. Interest in
relationship of Chickering dealers and their salesmen
with one another throughout the country, as well as this contest was at a high pitch throughout the en-
tire month. Two hundred and forty prizes, including
with the house of Chickering & Sons, was never more
a first prize of a new Chickering Style F grand piano,
impressively demonstrated than during the month of
were offered by Chickering & Sons to the salesmen
April just past. The occasion was the celebration of
throughout the country who sold one or more Chick-
the one-hundred-and-fourth anniversary of the estab-
ering pianos during the month of April, It was not a
lishment of that institution. The reaching of this
fourth milestone of their second century of service
meant much in sentiment to Chickering & Sons and
their dealers. And the significance of the event
offered an unusual business getting opportunity.
A carefully thought out plan was accordingly de-
vised to help the dealers realize the fullest benefit
of their association with the Chickering and the dis-
tinguished house that has so successfully produced
that great instrument down through the years. This
plan was prepared far in advance of the month. It
was submitted to Chickering dealers early in March
to allow them sufficient time to thoroughly digest it
and to make their own preparations to carry out the
suggestions presented. The reception given this plan
by Chickering dealers was most gratifying. Tele-
grams and letters immediately began coming in from
names appear, in their efforts to win as many prizes
as possible, surpassed all previous records in their
sales of Chickering pianos. Incidentally, this activity
resulted in many cases in an increased movement of
other makes of instruments.
Frank Bauer Made First Sale.
To Mr. Frank Bauer of the Hockett-Cowen Music
Company, Chickering representative at Fresno, Cal.,
WINNER OF THE CHICKERING GRAND.
.Mrs. Mattie Walthall Leman of the Walthall Music
Cpmpany, Chickering representative at San Antonio, Tex.,
the winner of the Ohiokeringr Style F Grand.
all parts of the country, enthusiastically endorsing the
April anniversary ideas and requesting necessary
dealer helps to carry through 100 per cent.
A Record Breaking Month.
The keynote of the anniversary was "the finest
spring business in history," and the spirit with which
all entered into the celebration, in itself, would have
produced splendid results. As it was, sales records
for the month were broken in many a chickering
wareroom. From a dealer in the South came this
report: "You will be interested in knowing, I am
sure, that at the close of business tonight we are 125
per cent above April of last year." Another dealer
located in Michigan wrote as follows: "I have just
summed up our Chickering sales and am sending
them to you herein. This is pretty much like the
fellow who plays rummy and holds his hand until
properly filled, then lays down his cards all at one
time." The above are typical of scores and scores of
reports that came in from all corners of the country.
THE STYLE F CHTCKERING GRAND.
Tlie grand prize of the Chickering anniversary contest for retail salesmen, won by Mrs. Mattu Walthall Leman of
San Antonio.
Shortly before noon on April 1 a telegram advising of
contest of man against man or of store against store.
the sale was received at New York, and the first
Every salesman won a cash prize with each Chicker-
ing he sold during April, and in addition he had a prize from the contest board went to Mr. Eauer.
chance to win the Chickering Style F grand.
Won Most Prize Money.
Prizes Broadly Distributed.
While nine salesmen tied in the number of Chick-
ering pianos sold during the month, Mr. Arthur
The checks went to every corner of the Union, as
is shown in the list of the winners on another page. Congdon of the Outlet Company, Chickering repre-
The large number of winners and the broad distri- sentative at Providence, R. I., won the largest total
of prize money. Close behind Mr. Congdon was Mr.
bution of the prizes indicated in this listing is a
C. Huntoon of the music store of the J. L. Hudson
testimonial not only to the wonderful success of this
Company, Chickering representative at Detroit, Mich.
excellent contest, but also to the nation-wide partici-
goes the honor of making the first sale of a Chick-
pation in the contest of Chickering dealer establish-
ering piano reported in the April anniversary contest.
ments. A large number of the salesmen, whose
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